One for the Vine

One for the Vine

Would You Like Some Vine?… Red or White?

Meet Tim Vine…

An English writer, actor, comedian and presenter best known for his rapid-fire puns.

If you enjoy that kind of word play (which I do) it’s very funny.

It tickles you. It makes you let out a laugh even if part of you just thinks for a moment “That’s silly”. Some puns catch you by surprise – and induce both a smile and a gentle nod of appreciation. Others can leave you rolling in your seat, fearing you will split your sides.

Comedy can do that to you.

It’s a wonderful feeling when it happens.

Puns may seem silly. Stand-up comedy may appear spontaneous, as if each story or gag is just made up in the moment on stage.

But there is more to it than that.

Puns play on words and language.

The master of the art…

Requires a bright, open, agile and enquiring mind.

Requires an interest in everyday phrases and sayings.

Requires the ability to make associations with one thing and another to trigger an emotional response in the audience.

A Record Breaker – And That’s No Joke!

Tim Vine is one of the world’s best exponents of the pun. In 2004 he entered the Guinness Book of World Records. In just one hour he delivered 499 jokes – beating the previous record of 362 by a mile.

Incidentally, his achievement inspired another comedian, Australia’s Taylor Goodwin to go 51 better a decade later. An incredible 550 in the hour.

But have you noticed the point I was making?

Comedians can teach us a thing or two about marketing, copywriting and advertising.

Think about it for a minute.

A comedian gets creative to come up with jokes, stories and puns.

A comedian develops a persona, a style, a character, a brand.

Tim Vine is THE pun master. (There are others who do puns but not the way Mr Vine does them).

Don’t Laugh – You Can Learn From Comedy

A comedian studies people and situations to explore what is or might be funny. What makes them laugh. What may make others laugh, too.

A comedian does their research and gathers material for their routine or set – whether a five-minute open-mic spot or a two-hour show at the O2 in London.

A comedian has a strategy and knows what they are going to say before going on stage. Some even write their whole performance in advance and simply learn the ‘script’ by heart – like an actor learning their lines – before hitting the spotlight.

A comedian tests their material at smaller ‘preview’ gigs before taking it out on the BIG nationwide or international tour.

They see what works really well – and keep that in. They see what works quite well and work to improve on it for the next performance. They see what does NOT work – and stop doing it.

And at the heart of their livelihood?

Words…

The Words Are What Determines Failure Or Success…

What is said. How it is said. Timing. Pace. Pauses. Presentation. Delivery.